Oct. 8, 2006
SAN DIEGO - The Aztecs were looking for revenge after falling to UNLV in the semifinals of last year's conference tournament and they found it, defeating the Rebels, 4-1, at the SDSU Sports Deck. Sophomore forward Jen Mello (Pleasanton, Calif.) scored two of the four Aztec goals. The win over UNLV is the first for head coach Mike Giuliano since joining the Aztecs and is the first for SDSU since 2002.
Junior goalkeeper Cat Burson (Poway, Calif.) had a fine day in goal, playing all 90 minutes and registering six saves.
San Diego State got on the board in the 34th minute when freshman Jessica Gordon (Tujunga, Calif.) threaded the needle with a pass to Mello, who beat a defender and sank it in the right corner from 12 yards out to give SDSU a, 1-0, lead.
In the 50th minute, Mello would once again find the net, this time on a pass from freshman Heather Vandevanter (Alamo, Calif.) to make it, 2-0. Mello's five goals and 12 points now lead the Aztec squad.
SDSU would go on to score two goals in the next 10 minutes to take the, 4-0, advantage. The first one came when freshman Cat Walker (Folsom, Calif.) used her head on a pass from sophomore Mariko Strickland (Kaua'i, Hawaii) to sink her third goal of 2006. Sophomore Becky Ryan (Batavia, Ill.) set up a Vandevanter goal, her second of the season, from 10 yards that found the upper right corner to give SDSU a commanding, 4-0, lead
UNLV would score in the 82nd minute, but would get no closer.
The Aztecs (5-7-1, 1-0-1 MWC) will take their momentum and travel to face No. 11 Brigham Young (10-2-1, 1-1 MWC) on Thursday in Provo.